Power operated furnace cover



rowan OPERATED FURNACE COVER Filed June 9, 1930 C; WRIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Car/ Oct. 4, 1932.

C. WRIGHT POWER OPERATED FURNACE COVER Filed June 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Get. 4, 1932 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL WRIGHT, OF GENEVA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN FORK 8: HOE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO POWER OPERATED FURNACE COVER Application filed June 9, 1930. Serial No. 459,977.

This invention relates to power-operated covers for tanks, retorts, furnaces, soakingpits and the like.

In various arts, it is often desirable to employ removable covers for tanks, retorts, furnaces, soaking-pits and the like. When the dimensions and weight of such covers.

exceed certain limits, it becomes inpracticable to operate the covers by hand and it becomes desirable to operate them by powerdriven machinery.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved apparatus or machine adaptable to lift and laterally remove a cover and by the reverse movements replace the same.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus or machine for removing a cover laterally from the tank or the like which it is adapted to cover and to return it by corresponding lateral movement.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus of the class described in which the lateral movements of the cover to remove it or to replace it may be automatically controlled to stop the cover in predetermined positions laterally and/or directly over the tank or the like to be covered.

Another object is to provide a machine or apparatus of the class described which will be simple and cheap to construct and durable and efficient in operation, and by which covers of great weight may be supported and operatively move Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of my invention and indicating a furnace to be covered and a cover therefor.

Fig. 2 is a view taken from the plane 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken from the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, I have indicated at 1 a furnace having therein an interior chamber 2 and an upper planular face or top 3. At 4 is shown in simplified form a rec- V tangular elongated block-like cover for the chamber 2 having a lower face 5 adapted to rest upon the face 3 of the furnace to cover and substantially seal the chamber 2.

The furnace 1 is, as indicated, preferably of the type into which articles to be heated may be loaded from above into the chamber 2. The details of the furnace 1 and of the cover 4 therefor are not essential in the practice of my invention and these parts may be variously modified in accordance with metallurgical practice.

The cover 4 is supported below and secured to a pair of parallel I beams 66 terminating at their forward ends adjacent one side ofthe cover as at 77 and rearwardlyextending beyond the limits of the cover as at 88 for a purpose to be described. The cover 4 may be secured to the under-side of-the I beams 6 by suitable hangers 99. In the drawings the ends of the elongated cover are supported by turn-buckle constructions 1010.

On the underside of the I beams 88 and adjacent the rearward side of the cover 4 is a pair of flanged wheels 11-11 secured on the opposite ends of a transverse shaft 12 which is rotatably mounted in bearing supports 13 secured to the lower flanges of the I beams 8. On the extreme rear ends of the I beams 8 are mounted depending hangers 14 on the lower ends of which are rotatably mounted a pair of flanged wheels 1515. Disposed under the furnace to permit the wheels 11 to roll inwardly to positions adjacent the chamber 2. The forward ends of the rails 16 rest upon the upper ends 21 of a pair of jack screws 22 threaded into brackets 23 on the wall of the furnace 1 or on any suitable rigid support;

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generally as at 40 supporting the cover 4" pear that the I beams 88, which may be braced in a well known manner as for example by angle irons or the llke 2.5.. and 26, constitute a truck which may be designated and adapted to roll back and forth on the rails 16 by means of the wheels 11 and pre.-. vented from being over-balanced because of the weight of the cover 4 by the outboard disposition of the wheels 15 on the underside of the rails 16.

By means of the transverse angle irons 2626 supported by the beams 8 and a pair of longitudinal angle irons 27-27 supported on the angle irons 26-26, a platform is provided upon which is mounted an electric motor 28 connected to a gear speed reducer 29 the latter being connected by means of a sprocket chain to a sprocket wheel 31 on the shaft 12. Thus the motor 28 may rotatably drive the shaft 12 and through the wheels 11 propel the truck 40 carrying the cover 4 along the rails 16 in either direction. By meansof a conductor-carrying cable 32,

current to the motor 28 may be controlled to start it in either direction and to stop it.

A limit switch 34 may be provided in aswitch box 33 mounted on a stationary support 41 and adapted to control the current to the motor 28 to automatically stop the motor when the truck and the cover 4 have been moved to predetermined positions forwardly or rearwardly of the rails 16. To operate the limit switch 34, a bar 35 may be mounted on the cover 4 by brackets or the like 36 and may be provided with a longitudinal slot 37 in which slot a pin or the like 38 on the limit switch may travel during movement of the bar 35. The engagement of the pin 38 with the ends of the slot 37 may operate the switch in a well known manner.

In the operation of my invention, the cover 4 may be raised and lowered by raising and lowering the forward ends of the rails 16 by the jack screws22 to dispose the face 5 of the cover adjacent to the face 8 of the furnace, with a suitable clearance therebetween in the closed position of the cover and to remove the cover in such mode ofoperation, the motor 28 may be started, which will drive the wheels 11 and roll the truck 40 rearwardly on the rails 16; and to replace tl e cover, the motor 28 may be reversed and the truck rolled back again. In either movement of the truck, its movement may be stopped in predetermined positions by the automatic operation of the limit switch 34 above described.

The clearance between the cover 4 of the pit reerses face 3 may be accurately gaged by the jack screws 22. 7

If, however, it be desired to lower the cover 4 into sealing engagement with the mouth of the chamber 2, this may be done by manipulating the jack screws 22 to lower the'rails 16. When it is'desired to remove the cover, the jack screws 22 may be operated to raise the rails 16 sufficiently .to clear-the cover .4. from the pit whereupon it may be rolled rearwardly on the rails'16.

In some instances I prefer to provide stops 42 and 43 comprising laterally extending fingers secured to the webs of the rails 16 and adapted to be engaged by the hangers 14 at suitable forward and rearward limits of movement respectively to prevent over-travel of the truck 40in either direction,

My invention is not limited tothe exact details of construction shown and described. Many departures therefrom may be made 'within the spirit of my invention without sacrificing its advantages.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a substantially horizontally'disposed track rail, a truck adapted to travel rearwardly and forwardly on the rail, the truck com prising a frame, a truclesupporting wheel on the frame adapted to roll on the rail, a loadsupporting portion on the frame disposed forwardlyof the wheel, a frame extension disposedrearwardly of the wheel, a second wheelonthe extension engaging the underslde of the rail and adapted to roll thereon, a motor supported on the frame and adapted to rotate the first said wheel to propel the truck on the rail.

2. In an apparatus for laterally and vertically disposing a'movable load, a track rail forwardly and rearwardly disposed, and supported atthe rearward end in a manner to permit the forward endto be raised and lowered, means'for adjustably raising and low Vermg' the forward end of the rail, a truck adapted to travel forwardly and rearwardly on the rail, and comprising a frame, a loadsupporting portion on the frame forwardly disposed thereon, a supporting wheel on the frame adapted to roll on the rail and disposed rearwardly of the load-supporting portion, a second truck wheel on the frame disposed rearwardly of the first wheel and engaging the lower side of the rail and a motor mounted on the frame and adapted to rotate theflrst wheel to propel the truck on the rail. 7

3. In an apparatus for laterally and vertically disposing a movable load, a track rail forwardly and rcarwardly disposed, and supported at the rearward end in a manner to permit the forward end to be raised and lowerejchineans for adjustably raising and lowering the forward endof the rail, a truck adapted to'travel forwardly and'rearwardly on the rail, and comprising a frame, a loadsupporting portion on the frame forwardly disposed thereon, a supporting wheel on the frame adapted to roll on the rail and disposed rearwardly of the load-supporting portion, a second truck wheel on the frame disposed rearwardly of the first wheel and engaging the lower side of the rail and a motor mounted on the frame and adapted to rotate the first Wheel to propel the truck on the rail, and a limit stop device for stopping the movement of the truck on the rail at a predetermined point.

4. In combination with a furnace or the like and a cover for the top thereof, and apparatus for operating the cover comprising a pair of substantially horizontally disposed track rails having end portions adjacent the furnace and extending longitudinally therefrom, a truck adapted to travel forwardly and rearwardly on the rails comprising a frame and provided with and supporting the furnace cover on a forwardly disposed portion thereof, a pair of supporting truck wheels rotatably mounted on the frame and adapted to roll back and forth on the said rails, a second pair of truck wheels on the frame disposed rearwardly of the first pair of wheels and engaging the under-sides of the rails to prevent the weight of the cover from rocking the truck frame around the first said wheels, the parts being arranged so that forward movement of the truck will dispose the cover over the furnace and rearward movement of the truck will remove the cover therefrom, and means for raising and lowering the ends of the rails adjacent the furnace to raise and lower the cover relatively to the furnace top.

5. In combination with a furnace or the like and a cover for the top thereof, an apparatus for operating the cover comprising a pair of substantially horizontally disposed track rails having end portions adjacent the furnace and extending longitudinally therefrom, a truck adapted to travel forwardly and rearwardly on the rails comprising a frame and provided with and supporting the furnace cover on a forwardly disposed portion thereof, a pair of supporting truck wheels rotatably mounted on the frame and adapted to roll back and forth on the said rails, a second pair of truck wheels on the frame disposed rearwardly of the first pair of wheels and engaging the under-sides of the rails to prevent the weight of the cover from rocking the truck frame around the first said wheels, the parts being arranged so that forward movement of the truck will dispose the cover over the furnace and rearward movement of the truck will remove the cover therefrom, and a motor on the truck frame adapted to rotate the first pair of wheels.

6. In combination with a furnace or the like and a cover for the top thereof, an apparatus for operating the cover comprising a pair of substantially horizontally disposed track rails having end portions adjacent the furnace and extending longitudinally therefrom, a truck adapted to travel forwardly and rearwardly on the rails comprising a frame and provided with and supporting the, furnace cover on a forwardly disposed por tion thereof, a pair of supporting truck wheels rotatably mounted on the frame and adapted to roll back and forth on the said rails, a second pair of truck wheels on the frame disposed rearwardly of the first pair of wheels and engaging the under-sides of the rails to prevent the weight of the cover from rocking the truck frame around the first said wheels, the parts being arranged so that forward movement of the truck will 

